Last month we heard the first reading of a resolution that would amend the Rules of Procedure for the city council to remove language relating to study sessions and Committee of the Whole meetings for the council. The proposed changes would eliminate regular Committee of the Whole meetings, moving any items that would have been discussed at those meetings to the council's study sessions. Those study sessions would be moved from noon to 10 a.m. The intent is to improve the efficiency of the council, and to allow council members to attend events held at the lunch hour on Tuesdays. Because it involves changes to the rules of procedure for the council, the resolution requires a second reading, which is on this week's agenda.

LNG Facility

A resolution on this week's regular agenda would authorize an Interagency Agreement with the Washington State Department of Ecology to expedite the review of certain permits relating to the Puget Sound Energy Liquefied Natural Gas Facility proposed to be located in the Tacoma Tideflats. Tacoma's Planning and Development Services Department will be the lead permitting agency for environmental review, shoreline permitting, and building permits for the project, with Ecology reviewing them. The agreement sets up a cost reimbursement for dedicated review time, the costs of which would then be passed along to the applicant, PSE.

Purchase Resolutions

Two purchase resolutions appear on this week's council meeting agenda

$513,893, budgeted from the Wastewater Fund, for the construction of approximately 940 linear feet of 8-inch diameter underground wastewater pipe in the vicinity of 6th Avenue and Monroe Street.

$350,000, plus sales tax, budgeted from the Street Fund, to perform a pavement condition index survey. The survey will provide updated information to inform Public Works' decision making on capital improvement projects. The Arizona-based company being considered to complete the survey would rate the condition of Tacoma's streets on a scale between 0 and 100, which will help Public Works identify and prioritize immediate needs, and to develop a preventative maintenance strategy. The last such survey was done in 2007.

Other Items

Three resolutions on this week's council meeting consent agenda set dates for public hearings by the Hearing Examiner on requests to vacate three separate pieces of City-owned property.

Thursday, July 9 at 9 a.m. - Hearing on the request to vacate the portion of South 22nd Street between the west margin of I-705 and the east margin of Dock Street, to facilitate full closure of the rail crossing.

Thursday, July 9 at 1:30 p.m. - Hearing on the request to vacate a one-foot portion of Commerce Street, South 15th Street, and Pacific Avenue to cure a building foundation encroachment previously permitted under Street Occupancy Permit 140.

Thursday, July 16 at 9:00 a.m. - Hearing on the request to vacate a portion of South 52nd Street lying east of South Trafton Street and west of the alley, for residential development.

The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local 483, will be recognized for their Peanut Butter Drive to support the Emergency Food Network.

A resolution on the regular agenda this week appoints and reappoints four individuals to the Sustainable Tacoma Commission.

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The objectives of the Tacoma LNG project are to meet PSE customers’ gas demands and to provide a cleaner-burning fuel that meets or exceeds applicable regional, state and federal air standards. The Tacoma LNG Facility is proposed for a 33-acre site on the Blair-Hylebos Peninsula in the Port of Tacoma, an area designated for redevelopment following the Port of Tacoma’s preparation of a Final EIS in 2009 (posted below).

The facility would chill approximately 250,000 gallons of natural gas into liquefied natural gas (“LNG”) daily for use as a reduced-emissions fuel for marine vessels and land-based vehicles, as well as for utility peak shaving during periods of high demand. A single 8-million gallon, non-pressurized full-containment LNG storage tank consisting of an inner nickel-steel tank and an outer concrete tank with interstitial insulation, would be located on the site. The facility would also include infrastructure for loading marine vessels and/or bunker barges with LNG. An existing pier on the Hylebos Waterway will be replaced and a new fueling platform and mooring dolphins will be installed on the Blair Waterway.